Women's Wisdom Goddess of the Harvest, can be viewed here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29950483
This necklace started with the beautiful, carved Picasso-like wood jasper dryad bead. It had to be mine! I pictured it like the trunk of a great tree, dripping with beautiful leaves, suspended on swaying branches, with an abundance of apples within reach.
I wanted it to look classic, but modern, so I wove the seed bead base through a brushed silver-toned chain. As I was putting the necklace together, I decided the dryad needed a string skirt. I'm facinated with women's history - the stories that aren't told! String skirts were probably the first non-animal clothing humans ever devised, and were made more for adornment and ritual than for protection. To the dryad's beaded string skirt, I attached an amethyst snake bead. I like the renewal aspects represented by the snake, who was a traditional ally of pre-Christian Goddesses. The dryad bead is attached to a smaller brushed silver-toned chain with sterling silver plated wire.
While making this necklace, I was reminded of one of my favorite children's stories by Caitlin Matthews, "The Blessing Seed," an inclusive revisioning of the creation myth. This beautiful story has a Tree of Wisdom giving a gift to the people, and the people gladly accepting the responsibility and challenges that come with wisdom. These challenges have been met by women throughout history (Herstory), and are still being met by women today! That is the message of this necklace, to reach for and tap into your wisdom, and don't fear if some authority figure tries to shame you out of your wisdom, for it is yours!
The necklace is 19-3/4 inches long, with a silver-toned clasp that has the word, "WISDOM" on the bar of the bar-toggle. The dryad/Goddess bead is 2-1/8 inches long and hangs 3-3/4" from the main chain. It is created with a custom mix of many colors and sizes of seed and bugle beads,pressed glass leaves some with aurora borealis and some with gold accents, amethyst snake bead, and wood jasper dryad bead.
Metaphysical properties are thought to be:
Amethyst - bestows stability, strength, invigoration, and peace, the peace being the perfect peace which was present prior to birth. It is warm and cuddly as well as regal and ruling. It has been used to encourage and support sobriety. It is an excellent stone for one who is attempting to find freedom from addictive personalities (oneself or another). Calming, strong, protective qualities, healing, divine love and inspiration. Enhances one's psychic and creative abilities.
Jasper - is said to give protection, stability and balance. Can help coordinate buiness activites leading to increase. Known as the stone of Global Awareness - It promotes brotherhood to work together to save the planet. It emits an energy which promotes the spiritual affinity to achieve perfect accord between humanity and nature; It is one of the earth Stones for the age of redemption & cleansing of the earth.
Silver - Mirror to the soul. Eloquence. Connects physical and astral bodies. In jewelry, it provides a balanced setting that retains the qualities of the stone it holds. Lunar energy. Cleansing, balancing.
Glass - glass represents and carries the energies of transformation, merging of elements, rebirth, focus and communication. The colors of the glass bring the vibrations of those specific color energies.
*Metaphysical properties are listed for our own personal curiosity & for the interest of Etsy readers. Sources include: "Love is in the Earth" by Melody; "Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic" by Scott Cunningham; Avalon Crystals and various unattributed internet sources. Stones can enhance your enjoyment of life, but should not be used as a substitute for good physical and mental health care.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
